NYC's Bloomberg endorses Fletcher

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed Nathan Fletcher for San Diego mayor, calling him “a strong, independent leader” and urging city voters to back him in Tuesday’s primary.

Bloomberg, who is a former Republican turned independent like Fletcher, said the assemblyman’s willingness to worker with both Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento shows he is “a problem-solver focused on solutions, not politics.”

“Nathan will fight the status quo and make decisions based on the merits and not political consequences,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Nathan and other courageous elected officials who share my belief that there is an alternative to partisan gridlock.”

The endorsement is a coup for Fletcher in the final days before the primary. The New York Times reported last month that President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are aggressively seeking Bloomberg’s support in the presidential race, but he has yet to commit to either.